Amazon fires and deforestation at decade record

The destruction Brazil's Amazon rainforest has hit its highest level in 12 years according to official data by the Brazilian National Institute for Space Research presented Monday.

The 11,088 square km-area deforested between July 2019 and August 2020 is twice the size of the city of Rio de Janeiro, and represents an increase of 9.6% over the previous 12-month period.

Brazilian Vice President Hamilton Mourao, who also coordinates government efforts to reduce environmental crimes, claimed an estimation had said the rise could have been as much as 20%.

"(But) 9.6% is not a (number) to celebrate. Our desire is not to have illegal deforestation by any chance inside the Amazon. This is what we are fighting for," said Mourao.

The deforestation of the Amazon has drawn worldwide attention, including expressions of concern by U.S. President-elect Joe Biden, who suggested the creation of a fund to stop the rainforest's destruction.

Mourao said Biden knew Brazil well and asserted dialogue on the matter would begin with his new U.S. adminstration "without major problems".

(Image Credit: AP)